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From time to time, the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) receives feedback on the issue of employability and initiatives that are in place to upgrade the skills and competencies of local employees, especially Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs). Here, we bring you a reply from the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to address the issue of employment and training assistance for individuals.
 
Reply from the Singapore Workforce Development Agency
 
The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) currently offers a full range of skills upgrading programmes under the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) and Employability Skills (ES) framework. As our focus is to help workers undergo training that will upgrade their skills and employability, as well as increase the competitiveness of companies and industries, our courses and programmes are competency-based, industry recognised and provide workers with the competencies and skills that are needed by employers and can be applied immediately at the workplace.  In addition, courses under our WSQ framework are developed based on national standards in collaboration with the various industries.
 
Specifically for Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs), WDA has also launched the Skills Training for Excellence Programme (STEP) targeted at helping them update their skills, knowledge and expertise so that they remain competitive and employable. The offerings under STEP are also subsidised and directly accessible to individual PMETs and includes Industry Scholarships, Master-classes/ Seminars etc. With the continuing restructuring in companies in response to global economic developments, employers are generally looking for workers with the knowledge and skills to perform the jobs well. Through training, individuals can upgrade their skills, as well as learn new skills to either stay employable or improve their employment opportunities.
 
Beyond training, WDA, in partnership with the five Community Development Councils (CDCs), operates career centres island-wide, providing employment assistance for all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. At the career centres, job seekers will be assisted by a dedicated Career Consultant who will help with referrals based on their work preferences, background/experience and available jobs and/or recruitment events in the database. Job seekers are referred to the career centre located nearest to their home for convenience. Job seekers may find out the location of the nearest career centre located to them by keying in their 6 digit postal code here.
 
In addition to the assistance available at the career centres, WDA also offers an online career guide to keep jobs seekers informed of the available job opportunities and growth sectors that are hiring, career guides and interview tips.  Job seekers requiring information on available vacancies in various sectors can also log on to JobsNet, WDA’s online employment service system for job seekers and employers, to search for suitable job vacancies and apply directly with the employers.
 
For more information on WDA, please visit WDA’s website at www.wda.gov.sg or contact our hotline at 6883 5885 (Mon to Fri, 8.30am to 5.30pm).